Errol Flynn's Presence makes it all Worthwhile In 1943's NORTHERN PURSUIT Canadian Mountie Errol Flynn tracks downed Nazi pilot Col. von Keller (Helmut Dantine) across Canada to prevent his secret sabotage mission from coming to fruition. The premise of the story, by screenwriters Frank Gruber and Alvah Bessie, is good but director Raoul Walsh isn't able to generate much energy until the actual pursuit begins. Julie Bishop is a rather weak female costar while Helmut Dantine is good at what he does best in his role as Nazi von Keller. However, Errol Flynn is good throughout giving a very realistic and determined performance. This film is moderately entertaining but Flynn's presence makes it all worthwhile.
Flynn Joins The Mounties In this lesser-known Errol Flynn action vehicle, he stars as Canadian Mountie Steve Wagner who tangles with Nazis on a mission in Canada to bomb an important canal. Since Flynn's character is the son of German parents, he works undercover with his sympathies being questioned by both sides. The set up scenes for Flynn's undercover work are weakly written and directed, but once he goes on his mission the story begins to pick up, with some good action scenes and moments of conflict. Oddly enough, Flynn isn't much of a presence in this film, going through the motions more than acting. Julie Bishop as his fiancee is hardly one of his best leading ladies, while Helmut Dantine as the Nazi leader is good in a role the actor had to play in many films throughout WWII. I'm not sure where the movie was actually filmed, but a lot of it appears to have been on soundstages, which is unfortunate, since the tough, bitterly cold northern Canadian landscape would have added a dimension of reality to an otherwise unrealistic story. Certainly, despite its shortcomings, the film is an interesting one to watch, but fans of Flynn will not count it among the best of his work at Warner Brothers.
Northern Pursuit I watched this video last night. It is a tightly constructed movie, with a great performance by Errol Flynn. Great action, as Flynn single-handedly outwits the Nazis. The special effects are very dated, and humorous, but, overall the film is a fine evening of fun.
Watch for Errol Flynn's last line in the movie - it is Flynn at his best!
Flynn Vents Some Post-Trial Rage "Northern Pursuit" was Errol Flynn back on the job at Warner's right after he'd been acquitted in that degrading statutory rape trial in 1943,and take it from me,folks,he isn't Robin Hood any more.The video movieguides will tell you this a routine wartime thriller,"one of the lesser Flynns".Don't you believe it.Seldom has a role and a star's real-life circumstances combined to deliver a performance as intense as this one.Imagine how Flynn felt when he made it.He'd just barely averted a long time prison stretch for a "crime" in which he was almost certainly set-up,and besides having become the laughing stock of every newspaper in general circulation,there was real doubt on the part of the studio as to whether he could sustain his popularity in the face of such humiliating publicity.Of course,Flynn was a terrific actor before he got into this jam,and now that it was over, those bitter scars were fresh and deep."Northern Pursuit" is a naked depiction of Flynn at the edge of the cliff.The story's a good one,but that's just gravy.The pace is intense,crackling---but we expect that in a Warner's wartime star vehicle.The greatness of this movie is Errol Flynn.When he stands there and denounces Tom Tully(he's a Canadian mountie and Tully doubts his loyalty),Flynn's not just playing a scene---he's back on the witness stand in downtown L.A.,only this time he doesn't have to be humble and subdued as he was for the jurors---it's a riveting moment.And there's more.Watch how Flynn kicks the camera out of that reporter's hand after he's been disgraced from the service---that's no act---Flynn looks like he wants to kill the guy for real,and who could blame him?This is a great star opening up all the steam valves after an ordeal few of us could have endured---the fact that he went on to deliver another fifteen years of great performances is a testament to the enduring fascination of Errol Flynn.
Anything Goes Trivia
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